Table



May 7, 1940.

- w. R. SHARP 2,199,895

TABLE Filed Jan. 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 //VV[/V7,?.

WILLIAM REID SHARP.

x a v 6'7 7 ORNE X y 7, 1940- w. R. SHARP 2,199,895

TABLE Filed Jan; 12, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOE. WILLIAM REID SHARP. BY.

A T Tole/MEX May 7, 1940. w SHARP 2,199,895

' TABLE Filed Jan. 12, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet s Mk4... 4am

Attorney Patented May 7, 1940 o TABLE v William-Reid Sharp, Benton, England Application January 12, 1938, Serial'No..184-,6 8

I .In Great Britain March 2, 1937 6 Claims.

: for example when it is used as a writing or reading desk, the mere movement of drawing the top towards the user enables the said top to be brought over the users knee so thati-f desired the table can be used in a reclining position, and 115 the user does not have togsit fat the table but can bring the table topinto any desired position -.to suit his convenience,.the table assuming its retracted. position by the users merely pushing the top away. Another object is to provide an improved form of ironing table; and a still further object of the invention is to providean im: proved form of folding dinner wagon.

The table according to the invention comprises a top pivotally connected about an 'a xis at; one end'to inclined supporting means which at their lower end are pivotally connected to abase about an; axis, and single-stop means adapted-to co-op erate' with said top, supporting means and base, in such a manner that in one direction th table top may be moved until the assembly automatically takes up a substantial Z form with the support means as the inclined member whilein the other direction it is freely-movable without the necessity of releasing anyholding-means. I, By single stop meansiis ineantstopimeans which engage at one position only as distinguished from stop means which have a variety of engaging positions for example a pawl and a series of ratchet teeth. r 0 In one form the stop means are interposed on the one hand between thetable topand thesupporting means and on the other hand between the supporting meansand the base.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the said drawings: o Fig. 1 is a perspective. view ofone formofflthe 5o invention, the table being in its retracted position or position of rest.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view-of thetable, shown,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another form of table in its rest position.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the table of Fig. 4'in use as a desk.

' Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the table of Figs. ;,!5 4 and 5 folded against a wall.

Fig. '7 is a side View showing the invention applied to an ironing table.

Fig. 8 is a plan of Fig. '7 but folded. Fig. 9 is an elevation of Fig. 8. 1.19 Fig. 10 is a sideview showingthe invention applied to a dinner wagon.

Fig. 11 is a side view of the dinner Wagon of Fig. 10' folded up.

Fig. 12 is an end View of 10. 5 7

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation of a table with a reversible top. I s

Fig. l i'is an end view partly in section of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a sideelevation of a tubular form of .30 table.

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of another form of tablefhaving two inherent stable supporting posi- 'tions. I o

Referring more particularly'to Figs. 1 to 3, the 25 table comprises wide supports I :to which the top '2 and base 3 arepivoted at 4 and 5respec-tively so that-in the one direction they may be swung between said supports to fold-the table but in the other direction abutagainst abutments-G on the '30 inner iacesof the supports I, said abutments being arranged on the sidesof thesupports I 7 remote fflollifibepiVOIJiflg axes 4 and 5. This form of table lends itself to a'simple form of bracing by meansof a box- 1 which isarranged mid-way be- :35

tween the'ends of thesuppo'rts I'whichare thus joined together, so that said .box I serves the double purpose of bracing the supports I and providing a container forpapers, note-paper and so forth. To give the necessary distance between the pivoting axesand the points of support forft'he top andthe base, the supports have laterally projecting bosses Ia and the table top and base have corresponding. bosses 2a, 3a formed thereon which are pivotally mounted on the support 5 bosses Ia, Transverse; battens lb are-provided on theroutside at each end of thesupports I for strengthening purposes. I

rjIn use, assume it is; desired to:use the table while the user is sitting back in; an easy chair or a chesterfield. 'Ihetable is arranged in front I of: the .user .in its position of rest withthe free end of'the table topnearestthe user. When the table is tobe used-fOr exarn-ple asa deskpor the like,:alLthe-nserhasto:do-isto pull thetable-top equilibrium, where the table top is clear of hisknees.

The above to be folded when it is not required for any use.

This is effected by swinging the top 2 and bottom frame 3 away from the abutments 6 until they have nearly swung through 360 degrees and lie substantially parallel with and between the sup-,

ports I. The folded table can then be leaned against a wall as shown in-Fig. 3 where it may be used as a paper holder. r

In the form shown in Figs. 4 to 6, 8 indicates the diagonal supports and .9, 10 the table top and the bottom frame respectively. Pawls l I are pivotally mounted? on the'inside of the top 9,

and pawls l2 are pivotally mounted on the inside of the lower portion of the supports 8, said pawls being respectively connected by bars H3,

H5. Stops l5 are provided on the supports 8 for limiting the angular movement of the pawls T2 so that when the table is unfolded the pawls [2 will drop into the correct position to abut against the side members of the frame [ll which are grooved or recessed at Ilia to receive projections l2a, on the free ends of the pawls l2. The upper pawls I l are extended beyond the pivoting points as at I la. so that the extensions abut against the underside of the tabletop 9 when in the desired position. With this form by merely holding-the table top 9 horizontal and allowing the support 8 and base ID to drop the table may be assembled. This form of table is adapted for use for camping owing to its relatively light construction, and also for ironing purposes where an overhanging ironing board is required.

Fig. 5 shows the table in the position it will occupy when drawn towards the user similarly to the illustration in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 'shows' the table folded up. It will be noticed that the hinged ends of the lower frame ID are tapered away from the hinge. This causes said frame when folded against the supports 8 to press against the latter as will be seen from Fig. 6, so that the folded table may be placedvertically against the wall. This feature may be taken advantage of when using the table according to Fig. 5; for instead of leaving the frame [0 on the floor it may be swung up against the supports 8 where it will remain pressed against the latter until the supports are swung into a position in which the hinge axes overhang the tapered ends of the frame In, which will then drop into the horizontal position shown in Fig. 5.

If desired short legs [6, preferably rigidly connected at their pivot ends, may be pivotally mounted on the underside of the free edge of the table top 9 so that the weight'of the lat'- ter is taken off the lap and transmitted through said short legs to the chair or the like. This form of construction is particularly adapted for use as a bed-table, the table being arranged at the side of the bed with the free edge of the table top parallel with the side of the bed. When the table is to be used by the occupant of the bed, the table top is pulled over sideways with the short leg abutments swung down to rest on the bed, until it is at the desired level.

One form of folding'iron'i g table is shown in Figs. '7 to 9 and comprises a top ll of conveiiconstruction enables the table tional ironing board form, viz., a relatively. narrow board with a. pointed end, said board being mounted between a pair of supports l8 which have their lower ends pivotally connected to one end of a base frame l9. Distance pieces are arranged between the board [1, supports [8 and shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Figs. 10 to'12' show the invention applied to a dinner wagon. According to this form the wagon is practically identical with the form of table shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the lower frame of which now comprises a tray 22, being mounted on castors 23; while the diagonal supports 24 have extensions to receive across bar 25. A middle tray 26 maybe pivoted at its mid-point along the supports24 and connected by a pair of links 21 to the upper tray 28 on the one hand and a similar pair of links 29 to the lower tray 22 on the other hand.= The trays will thus always remain'parallel whatever be the position of the supports 24; Fig. 11 shows the wagon folded up. To erect the wago'nit is only necessary to raise the handle 25. The trays rise with the supports 24 until the pawls drop into their engagement position as in the'case of the table shown in Figs. 4 to 6. With this form one pair of pawls may be dispensed with. Bydispensing with the lower pair the folding of the wagon is simplified as the handle maybe supported by theto that shown in Figs. .1 to 3, but with a reversible I top 40. A' groove is formed along the edges of the table as at M, said grooves having pivot pins 42 projecting thereinto from the supports I. By sliding the top 40 until the pins 42 abut against the opposite 'ends of the top 40 the latter may opposite direction to the other; or the one end of the support frame may be cranked and the endof the particular member adjacent its un crankedend, cranked; With any of these forms when the top and base are swung-in the one direction the table is inits folded condition, while when they are swung in the opposite direction the-cranked portions abut against the other members so that the table is maintained in an their ends cranked. The table top and base comprise tubular frames 44, pivotally connected respectively to the ends of the members 43 by means of links 46, so that when in the opened out condition as shown infull lines the side members of the top 44 rest on the top cranked ends of the supports 43 and the lower cranked ends of the latter rest on the side members of the base frame 45. Abutments 41 on the side members of the top 44 and base 45 prevent relative lateral movement between the members 43, 44, 45. Fig. 16 shows a form of table adapted to take up a number of positions independently of the user in addition to the predetermined horizontal position. The supports 48 are pivotally mounted on a base frame 49 the portions of whose side members adjacent the pivoting centre are raised to provide abutments 49a against which abutments 50 on said supports abut when the supports are either in the full line or dotted line position. In the full line position the table top 5| rests on an abutment 52 as in Fig. 1, but owing to the free portion overhanging the lower pivoting axis of the supports 48, pawls 53 on the supports 48 are adapted to engage recesses in the side members of the base 9 are preferably provided, although they are not absolutely necessary. The base 49 has hinged thereto a supplementary frame 54, the hinge 55 being on the underside so that the abutting ends of the frames 54 and 49 prevent any relative upward turning of either frame.

A pawl 56 is pivotally mounted on the underside of the table top 5! and has a projection 5'! at its free end which in the full line or retracted position rests in themore remote of two recesses in the upper abutments 52. When the top 5! is extended as shown in dotted lines, the pawl 53 having first been raised, the pawl 55 may be dropped into engagement in the nearer recess of of mounting is to permit of folding the frame 49 between the supports 48, when the table is not in use, the slots allowing the abutments 5B to pass over the ends of the enlarged portions 49a.

I claim: I 1. An improved table comprising a top, supporting means and a base, the said top being pivotally connected about an axis at one end to said supporting means which at its lower end is pivotally connected to the said base about an axis and single step means adapted automatically to take up a single predetermined operative position, said stop means being adapted to co-operate with said top, supporting means, and base, in such a manner that in one direction the table top may be moved until the assembly automatically takes up a substantial 2 form in side elevation with the support means as the inclined member and with the top and base as the horizontal members while in the other direction it is freely movable without the necessity of releasing any holding means.

2. An improved table comprising inclined supports, a table top pivotally connected about an axis to one end of each of said supports, a base pivotally connected to the other end of each of said supports about an axis the vertical projec tion of which is on the same side of the con- 5 necting axis between said top and said supports as the free end of said top, and single stops interposed on the one hand between said top and said supports and on the other hand mtween said supports and said base so that when the assembly is in the retracted position with said top above said base, said stops automatically come into operation at a predetermined operative position and prevent further movement of the top, towards the base, but allow movement of said top in the opposite direction.

3. A table according to claim 2 comprising relatively wide supports and abutments on the inner faces of said supports, said abutments being arranged on the sides'of the supports remote from the pivoting axes, while the top and base are pivoted to said supports so that in the one direction they may be swung between said supports to fold the table but in the other direction abut against said abutments.

4. A table according to claim 2 wherein the stops comprise pawls, and further stops against which said pawls are adapted to abut toensure said pawls moving into the predetermined operative position when the table is moved into the retracted position.

5. A table according to claim 2 wherein the supports are cranked at their ends in opposite directions, the cranked portions being parallel with one another the top being adapted to be supported by theupper cranked portions of the supports and the lower cranked portions being adapted to be supported by the base when the table is in the retracted position.

6. A table according to claim 2 comprising further abutments on the base to limit the movement of the supports when in the extended position, and pawls on the underside of the table 

